Hat stretcher



' April 20 1926. 1,581,940

. r G. MARGOLIN HAT STRETCHER Filed July 9. 1924 Patented Apr. 20, 1926.

- UNITED S-TATESPATENT' OFFICE.

GEORGE MARGOLIN,'OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO BENJAMIN J. GARFUNKEIQ,OF NEW YORK, N. 'Y.,. DOIN G BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME OR STYLE OF GARVE.

HAT srrm'rcnna.

v Application filed July 9,

To all whom it ma concern: i

Be it known that I, GEORGE MARGOLIN', a citizen of the :United States;residing at New York, in' the county of New'York and YState of New York,have invented icertain new and useful Improvements in Hat Stretchers, ofwhich the following is a specificationn V This invention which relatesto a device for stretching hats, either mens or womens,

. utilizes two blocks movable toward and from each other, the shape andsize of the blocks being such as to adapt them to distend the crown of ahat whose size is to be increased. In such an apparatus it is my aim toincorporate certainimprovements which romote economyin construction andassem ly, facility in operation, strength and durability in service,etc. a t c.

A preferred embodiment ofthis invention is set forth in the accompanyingdrawing in the manner following: I

Figure 1 is aside view of the stretcher,

--partly in elevation andepartly in section,

showing the two blocks widely separated;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section therethrough taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1and looking in the direction of the arrows; and I Fig. 3 is afragmentary detail in section, taken on line 33.of Fig. 1. r

' As shown, the structure includes in its 7 assembly a board A whereonis secured as by bolts 4 a base B of any appropriate contour. Supportedon the base is a fixed block 1C which, in turn, provides a mounting fora second block D which is movable toward *and from the other. Each blockpreferably consists of a suitableframe 5 -whereon is 1 carried a bell 6having the contour required for engaging suitably with a hat crown.

- The lower portion of the fixed block frame is provided witha'transverse opening I .7 wherein is mounted .a cylindrical housing 8which extends through a similar opening .in the movable block frame.From the fixed block frame on opposite sides of the housing are extendedtoward the movable block certain walls 9. having concave inner faces sodisposed as to" provide between them and 50 the housing a guidew'ay inthe form ofan annularspace 10 wherein may be slidingly .receiveda pairof bowed ribs ll-forming in effect acylindrical head. These ribs whichagainst any rotative tendencies.-

1924. Serial No. 724,926.

depend from the movable block frame are so *shaped as to surround thehousing except along its lower side wherein is formeda longitudinal slot12. The lower rib edges are shown as straightened out to receive betweenthem a plate 13 having a toothed u er edge portion which extends withint e ousing slot. This plate may be carried between the two ribs 11 as bymeans of one or more pins 14.. l y' Within the housingis a worm screw 15adapted to co-operate with the teeth of the plate 13 so as to cause themovable block to advance toward or recede fromthe fixed block. At itsinner end this screw is rested against a pin'16 extending transverselyof the housing, the opposite end of theworm screw terminating in a shaft17 which may be of reduced diameter. The screw is held fixedlywithin thehousing as by means of a collar 18 which is pinned or otherwise madefast to the housing; this collar surrounding the shaft in such a manneras to receive end thrusts from the worm screw when the movable block isadjusted toward the other.

to facilitate manual rota:

It is preferred that the board A shall carry a plate 20 on which aremarkings indicating the size to which a hat Wlll be stretched-in each ofthe various positions of the movable block. A pointer 21 depending "fromthe movable block so asto terminate adjacent this marking plate servesto apprise i the operator of the adjustments tation by engagement of theplate within the housing slot 12 and also by engagement within theguideway of the head which depends from the block D. The distance ofseparation between the two blocks indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 is ratherextreme, and in ordinary practice the depending head may be relied uponto steadythe movable block The present hat stretcher is advantageous "Anoperating handle 19 may beapplied to the shaft 17 so as tion thereof.

in many respects Its several components may be produced and assembled atsmall expense, and, whenever required, substitution of one part foranother may be readily also extended within the guideway from one blocktoward the other and having a fast connection with one block, therebeing a slot extending longitudinally of the housing, screw meansrotatably secured within the housing, and an element extended withinsaid slot engaged by the screw means and connected with the movableblock whereby the same is shifted toward and from the other withrotation of the screw means, substantially as described.

A hat stretcher in which are combined a pair of blocks, a slottedhousing secured fast to one block and extended through the other, atoothed element connected with the latter block and extending in partthrough the housing slot, and screw means rotatably secured within thehousing in engagement with the toothed element and adapted, whenrotated, to move the block to which said element is connected toward orfrom the other block, substantially as described. 7

3. A hat stretcher in which are combined a tubular housing slotted for aportion of its scribed.

tive, rotation between the two blocks, substantially as described.

5. A hat stretcher in which are combined a pair of blocks each having atransverse opening in aligmnent with the other, means forming a guidewayextending from one blockto the other, means on the latter block adaptedfor sliding movement within the from each other, a pair .of ribsdepending from one block and bowed .to provide between them acylindrical space, the edges of the ribs remote from the block beingstraightened and spaced from each other, a tubular housing having alongitudinal slot therein slidably extendedwithin the cylindrical spacebetween the bowed ribs, :1. toothed element carried between the straight.ened edges of the ribs and extended in part through the slot of thehousing, and screw means rotatably secured within the housing, thesecond block which forms a mounting for the housing having a guideway inwhich the ribs are receivable in such a manner as to prevent rotation.of one block with respect to the other, substantially as described.

7. A hat stretcher in which are combined two blocks movable relativelytoward and .from each other, means forming a guideway extending from oneblock toward the other, means forming a head extending from the otherblock and slidably receivable within the guide-way, a slotted housingcarried fast by one block and extended through the other, a .tootliedelement connected with the latter block and extended in part through theslot of the housing, and screw means rotatably secured within thehousing in engagement with the toothed element and adapted, whenrotated, to effect a movement of one block relative to the other,substantially as described.

8. A hat stretcher in which are combined a base a block fixedly securedto the base, means forming a guideway extending laterally from the blockand rested on the base, a second block having means extending therefromadapted to be slidably received within the guideway, and screw meanshaving operating parts connected with each block adapted to effect arelative movement therebetween, the guideway and parts associatedtherewith serving to prevent rotation of one block relative to theother, substantially as described. i

9. A hat stretcher in which are combined two blocks movable relativelyto each other, screw means extending between the two blocks foreffecting movement of one toward and from the other, and a mountingwhereon one block is slidably carried havingla fixed connection with theother block, saidmount, ing being in the form of a housing wherein saidscrew means is contained in part, substantially as described.

10. Ahat stretcher in which is combined a pair of relatively movableblocks, tubular means fixedly secured to one block and extendedtherefrom through the other to problock whereby to move the samerelative to the other block, substantiallyas described.

' GEORGE MARGOLIN.

